The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-17

visited the place in person, and suggested it as
suitable and advantageous place Inc water
power on both rivers is unlimited. and this was
brought into subsection for the running OF the
machinery of the armory. The government
purchased between the rivers 435 acres, and
leased in perpetuity of Fairfax the right to the
timber growing on Loudon Heights, covering
1895 acres. The works were begun In 1876 In
1899, during the excitement between this coun-
try and France troops were located here on the
high hill now IL the midst of the town, and to
this day their place of rendezvous is called
Camp Hill.1 Many died while here, and are
buried in the little cemetery on the hill. around
the grave of Harper; and many more married
and settled in the town and it's vicinity.
The armory was improved in time. and be-
came vast array of buildings. From the juno
ton of the rivers it extended up them both for
three-eighths of mile. That along the Potomac
has the fence that surrounded it still standng.
While the armory running the town was
busy Its sole importance was derived from
the fact that it was the site of the armory The
payroll was large. The factory had a capacity
of two thousand arms a month. In its day 1t
manufactured the finest guns, including both
the Enfield" and .sYercer" 1t was here that
Benjamin Moore first inveu ted and put In use
the interchange of the component parts OF gun,
which the government adopted and never re-
warded him for the invention. Often the men on
gagged in the works became uncomfortable. and
were mutinous. Il is related of them that they
pressed into service canal boat and visited
President Tyler to lay their supposed grievances
before him. Back upon the hill were built hne
residences for the officers that have been turned
students attending the colored schools
The place was objective one for the con-
federates. On the night of April Is, 1861, two
thousand rebels were marching to its capture,
and there were only forty soldiers to oppose
them. Captain Kingsbury, under the direction
of President Lincoln and the Secretary of War,
blew IN the storenouse and set ire to she works:
but the citizens rallied and put out the
fire, saving the entire works FIT
teen Thousand arms were thus destroyed.
The confederates carried the machinery, at
hair ap1lae al fha fnvvr W. mn lat
to Fayetteville, n. c., where it did service in
the cause of the rebels. They burned the fac
tory buildings, and blew up the bridge over the
river.
So much for the past OF the town. There
two corporations. Harper's Ferry, and Bolivar.
the latter lying back well on the hill, and both
together not containing over fifteen hundred
souls The two rivers form angle of less
than forty degrees. On the opposite side of
either Of them is almost a wilderness. Along
the southern side of the Potomac runs the Bait
more g. Ohio railroad. and then comes the
arsenal yard; not over fifty yards in
width, along the Shenandoah, another branch of
street between them The bluffs abruptly
to height of hundred feet, on top of which,
at their angle is perched a Catholic Church. the
best in the two towns. Along the side of an
ascending street cling old and diapidated
houses. High on the hill is q college for colored
students, the gift of a Maine man. and sup
ported by Northern friends Fit it is that here,
where the first blow was struck for their free
DOM and near where the first victim fell, mar
tyr to their cause, school exclusively for their
benefit should be maintained in the old govern
ment building.
Ascend the hill and turn your face toward the
place where the united Shenandoah and
Potomac form a passagsway through the Blue
Ridge, and you will behold than which
there are few, if any, more beautiful. To your
right, the Shenandoah. rise Loudon
heights. along whose summit runs the line be-
tween the two Virginias; to your left. across
the Potomac, rise Maryland heights. still
higher. thirteen hundred feet Back of you are
the low GROWING heights of Bolivar. From all
these the confederate forces poured shot aud
shell in 1862.
Here at your hand is "Jeffersons rock" fat
stone supported by upright posts. upon which
notes on Virginia. Probably upon this rock he
penned his celebrated description OF the noun
tain scenery now in view, wherein he said it
would pay one 10 cross the Atlantic TO
Save for the whistle Of the locomotive, the
two towns are almost as still the little ceme-
terry at feet. No wheel of industry here
turns. Idle and vacant houses stand every
turn. Ghosts said to wander these
heights. and the colored people avoid than
when the shades of night have descended. Why
any one should live here unless it is for the
scenery and because rents are cheap, IL Is diff
ficult TO say
On a Sunday afternoon we climbed the Mary
land heights to the old stone fort A glorious
sight was presented to our view. On clear
day from these heights, Winchester thirty two
miles away, is in sight. The sinuous Shenan-
doah could be traced for miles as il coursed
from the west Turning to the north the Poto-
mac, embracing island after island, was visible,
and to the east it coursed in broadening
stream between jutting peaks and sloping hills.
AT our feet lay the little town, sending up the
SOUND of toing bells. In every direction the
hills rolled away in one convolution after
another until their outline was lost in misty in
dlstinctness
Only low ridges mark the place of the old
stone fort Further down placed some
breastworks. still visible. The whole height is
covered with bushes and light timber. mile
further up the Potomac was Fort Dukeriu, a
height From these heights Numbered the rebel
artillery in September, 1862 Never was more
foolish attempt made to hold a town than was
here attempted after the three surrounding
heights had been captured by the enemy
Amid all the decay and destruction, the old
house In which John Brown made his fight still
stands, known and marked in great letters,
and not more than twenty-five feet high, sur
mounted by a small cupola. 1t used to
house hre-engine during the time the armory
was run. 1t has three double doors opening to
the south, now of iron, but then wooden. 1t is
the only building. except the residences for the
efhcers, owned by the government that is now
standing. The greater part Of the site of the
government buildings has passed into the pos
session of paper company, which is erecting
extensive buildings on the old foundations, but
John Browns Fort" is TO be preserved.
Many citizens are living who personally knew
Brown, and a few who participated unwllingly
il his attempt to overturn the constituted
authority. Brown lived at Sandyhook, or Keep
twixt the canal and the mountain, where he is
rememb ered as a very mild-mannered man, very
affable. and liked by all who met him. Two
miles back of Maryland Heights still stands the
old log school-hou in which he concealed his
guns; and two and half further out is the
KENNEDY Farm" which he rented. These
places are now Meccas for admiring tourists. In
Harpers Ferry is a young lady milliner who